Best Eye Cream Ingredients
The first step to purchasing an eye cream is knowing exactly what’s in a product.
Something as simple as knowing what ingredients will help or hurt the area around your eye could make a huge difference. Here are some ingredients commonly found in skin and eye care products and whether or not they would be worth your time.
What to Look for in your Eye Cream:
Acai Oil- The best source of natural antioxidants, which help prevent the effects of aging.
Alpha- Hydroxy Acids (glycolic, lactic, tartaric and citric acids) - an exfoliant that works well on thick, sun-damaged skin. Reshapes te skin to reduce wrinkles, but can be harmful to the sensitive area around the eye.
Alpha-lipoic acid- An antioxidant that can dissolve in both water and lipids (fat & oils) and can thus penetrate the skin and help fight aging.
Caffeine- New in the skin care industry, caffeine triggers a mechanism in cells damaged by sunlight to self-destruct. This can help reduce the damage that has already been caused by the sun.
CoEnzyme Q-10- An antioxidant that helps preserve collagen and elastin.
Copper Peptide- Promotes collagen & elastin growth and the production of glycosaminoglycans (see hyaluronic acid), works as an antioxidant and helps repair the skin tissue. Basically it does about everything.
Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE)- Known to tighten wrinkles and work as an antioxidant at the same time
Exfoliants- Good to reshape the skin but harmful to the area around the eye.
Glycerin- Traps toxins and clogs pores, not good for the skin of the area around the eye.
Green Tea- A good source of caffeine and antioxidants.
Hyaluronic Acid- Cushions and lubricates the joints and skin, and thus can reduce wrinkles.
Mineral Oils- Are preservatives, and will trap oils in the skin. Not good for the area around the eye, or those avoiding acne.
Propylene glycol- Antifreeze. It kills cells and causes redness, irritations and cracking.
Retinol- Small enough to penetrate deep layers of the skin and reduces odd pigmentation, wrinkles and general skin texture.
Salicylic Acid- Also known as Beta-Hydroxy acid, it is an excellent anti-acne product but can irritate the area around the eye.
Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid)- The only form of Vitamin C that functions as an antioxidant and also repairs collagen
Conclusion
There are dozens of other less-common ingredients that companies can use, but they can be less and less trusted. Always get your skin products from a trusted source. A little research now can save your skin later.
